Summary
This research, co-developed with Defra and key stakeholders, aims to expand UK agroforestry (AF) by addressing critical evidence gaps to support policy, practice, and uptake. It builds on prior research funded by the Nature for Climate fund.
ExAF2 focuses on market routes, socio-economic barriers, carbon storage in fruit trees and hedgerows, and the role of food forests. The project will generate novel data and deliver updated carbon models, interactive AF decision-support tools, and socio-economic analyses.
These outputs will inform policy development, Sustainable Farming Incentive measures, and progress towards net-zero targets. By integrating stakeholder insights throughout, ExAF2 will provide practical guidance to accelerate sustainable land-use change and support the expansion of agroforestry systems.
This project has been funded by the UK Government through Defra’s Forestry Research and Development programme.
Research Objectives
- What are the existing and potential routes to market of AF products?
- What are the social and economic barriers and opportunities to AF creation?
- What is the carbon abatement potential (biomass and soil) for fruit trees in agroforestry settings?
- What is the carbon abatement potential of hedgerows managed for biodiversity under the Sustainable Farming Incentive? Do other management approaches offer greater potential?
- What are the carbon stocks of England’s hedgerows, and what contribution can hedgerow creation & restoration make to net zero?
- What role does deadwood play in hedgerow biodiversity and carbon storage potential?
- How can food forests be defined within and outwith the scope of AF?
- What are the social and economic costs, opportunities and challenges in relation to establishing food forests at scale?
- What are the expected economic returns of food forests?
Funding & Partners
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DEFRA
